Bruins send Seguin packing, trade for Eriksson

The Bruins signed Tyler Seguin to a six-year, $34.5 million contract last September, just a little over two years after taking him with the second pick in the NHL draft. He was expected to be the next face of the Spoked-B. But before that contract ever took effect, the Bruins cut ties with the immature 21-year-old.

The Bruins signed Tyler Seguin to a six-year, $34.5 million contract last September, just a little over two years after taking him with the second pick in the NHL draft.

He was expected to be the next face of the Spoked-B.

But before that contract ever took effect, the Bruins cut ties with the immature 21-year-old.

Seguin was traded Thursday afternoon to the Dallas Stars in a blockbuster move, heading to Texas along with Rich Peverley and a prospect in exchange for winger Loui Eriksson and three prospects.

General manager Peter Chiarelli, who said Sunday that Seguin needed to "become more of a professional" and questioned his focus, looked to unload the young forward while his value was high, opening up salary cap space to reload the team in free agency while getting a proven scorer and two-way player.

"There’s an opportunity to get a very good player, who’s a natural winger, and to get some good prospects and to lower your cap and then maybe to improve in the next market starting tomorrow," Chiarelli said on a conference call. "So … listen, I had some comments on Tyler at the draft regarding his professionalism and him acting like a professional. I prefaced that by saying he’s only 21 and he’ll figure it out.

"You know what you have to manage your team, you have to manage your players, you have to manage your cap, and that was part of the reason why we made this move."

The prospects the Bruins acquired were defenseman Joe Morrow, a 2011 first-round pick, and wingers Reilly Smith and Matt Fraser, who Chiarelli said will challenge for a roster spot. The Stars got lightly regarded defense prospect Ryan Button.

Seguin came to the Bruins in 2010 after being hyped along with No. 1 pick Taylor Hall as franchise-changing playmakers. The Oilers took Hall first and he averaged better than a point per game this season. The Bruins were happy at the time to be left with Seguin.

After a breakout sophomore season with a team-high 67 points, Seguin slumped in 2013. He had 32 points in 48 games in the lockout-shortened regular season, then contributed just one goal and seven assists in 22 playoff games. The Bruins weren't happy with how he played in his hometown of Toronto in Games 3 and 4 of the first round; he was moved down to the third line shortly after and never rejoined the top-six forwards.

His Boston career ends with 58 goals and 65 assists in 203 regular-season games and expectations never met.

Chiarelli clarified that his comments about being professional were more about Seguin being focused to play than off-ice shenanigans, although he admitted Seguin enjoyed the perks of being a professional hockey player. He may have enjoyed those more than actually being a hockey player, something he'll be expected to figure out in Dallas.

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"He’s a 21-year-old that played as an 18-year-old, and I think he was just a 21-year-old kid," Chiarelli said. "He was maturing and growing up, and he liked to have fun like the rest of them. I don't really think it was such a big deal. But when I said earlier about focus, just about little things, about preparing to play, it was nothing about extracurricular activities."

Seguin will play center with the Stars, a position he grew up playing and where he says he can play faster than at right wing where he spent most of his Boston career. Former Bruins teammate Mark Recchi now works in the Stars front office and is familiar with Seguin.

Seguin is expected to be Dallas' No. 1 center, with Peverley centering the second line.

Eriksson will be used as a right wing for the Bruins as one replacement for departing wingers Nathan Horton and Seguin. Eriksson would fit in well on the second line with Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron, a spot previously held by Recchi and Seguin.

In the last three full seasons, the 27-year-old Eriksson has scored 71, 73 and 71 points. He has 150 career goals and can play on the penalty kill. A left-hand shot, he'll provide better balance to a power play that's been right-hand heavy.

"He can play the right side, and he has left shot skill," Chiarelli said. "He spreads out your power play. He’s a fast and a good two-way player. There’s a lot of his game that fits into how we play."

By freeing themselves from the cap hits of Seguin ($5.75 million) and Peverley ($3.25 million) and only taking back Eriksson's salary ($4.25 million for three years), the Bruins opened up $4.75 million in cap space. They now have about $9 million to work with, and can exceed that by $4 million by placing Marc Savard on long-term injured reserve.

Even with a long-term deal for Tuukka Rask that could be around $7 million a year still not finalized, the Bruins have the room to be aggressive in the free agent market as they look for more right wings. Chiarelli spoke to Daniel Alfredsson again Thursday as the 40-year-old gets close to a decision, which could come Friday when players are allowed to sign contracts.

Dan Cagen can be reached at 508-626-3848 or dcagen@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @DanCagen.